Tignes - any comments?

Hello All,

I'm looking to book a trip to Tignes in February next year, traveling with Alpine Elements, staying in Chalet Lavachey. Just wondered what people's experiences are with the skiing here, and if anyone has stayed at this chalet before?

We're a group of fairly competent skiers, we usually stick to mostly blue and red runs, with the odd black if it doesn't look too scary! I'm reading reviews about poorly labelled runs where reds should be black or blues should be red and wondered how true this is.

Thanks

El

Misunderstood20 wrote:I'm reading reviews about poorly labelled runs where reds should be black or blues should be red and wondered how true this is.

One man's easy Red is another man's scary Black... 8) ...though I don't recall encountering any problems with run gradings in Tignes and have skied there quite a few times. It's not a great place for absolute beginners unless you're staying right by one of the few (and far between) Greens but anyone from early Intermediate up will enjoy.

It is one of Europe's great ski areas, and you can be pretty sure of good snow coverage. Take a few days to find your way around with the piste map and you'll be fine. If your group is happy on Blues and Reds I can't see you having any major probs with Tignes Red runs - or with getting around the area generally. If Alpine Elements do any form of ski hosting then they should be able to ski with you and get a feel for how you might get on with some of the Blacks.

Go for it! 8)

I can't help with the chalet query, sorry. I've skied Tignes and Val D'Isere quite a few times. On the Tignes side I'd say the run ratings are typically French, in that a Red, requires your attention. On the Val side, there is some under rating, including the most difficult green run I've ever skied. However, as you say, your group are

fairly competent skiers

so it should be a resort that you all enjoy fully :D

I generally ski the last week of the season in Tignes and althouh i dont pay a huge amount of attention to the grading for the most part its well graded.

I agree with the others that the run markings in Tignes did not seem to be any different from other resorts. I cannot recall Val,D being noticably different.

It is good skiing, and if there is a group of you, then you will have a ball.

Do take the chairlift from Tignes area over to the Val'D side. I can promise you that you will remember the top element of the ride forever!

February will be fine, I was there at the start of January, and it was minus 120 degrees.

Minus 120 degrees????

I was on the Val d'Isere side a couple of years ago and with windchill it was around -45 degrees, coldest I've ever been.

Back on topic, it all depends what you want. The skiing is unquestinably good, but the resort itself is, as I have said before a creche for 15-30 year olds where they pack em in, fill em with expensive booze from 3pm untill 3am and see what hapens. At the ripe old age of 34 it's not what I want. 7 or 8 après ski cheekies followed by a swim, a nap poolside then a nice meal is more my style . Followed by good coffee, a peaty single malt and maybe a wee dance at the club.

The Val side is great and although I snowboard I enjoyed it more than Tignes which goes against the common thinking.

tino_11 wrote:Minus 120 degrees????

Yes, Dave is a cyborg with liquid nitrogen pulsing through his veins... 8) Possibly a typo methinks...

Thats a good point by Dave, Val is well worth a look especially over on the Glacier if its a nice day.
However unless the conditions are tip top then i would not advise skiing down into val from tignes get the Gondolla as their is no plesant way of getting down.